iTunes Editors’ Notes

In the early to mid-'70s, plenty of prog-rock bands paid passing homage to classical music, but Renaissance were one of the few to make an explicit connection between the classical and rock realms. They were really hitting their stride in 1974, coming off of the excellent Ashes Are Burning, when they unleashed Turn of the Cards. Like its predecessor, Cards quotes freely from classical compositions while mating the band's acoustic-based sound with full-on orchestral accompaniment. While many of their peers depended on Moogs and heavily processed electric guitars for larger-than-life sounds, Renaissance dished up plenty of drama via John Tout's piano and Michael Dunford's acoustic guitar (not to mention Annie Haslam's near-operatic vocals) on tunes like "Things I Don't Understand" and "Black Flame." And when they leaned all their compositional and musical muscle into an extended piece like the closing cut, "Mother Russia," they achieved a true classical-rock hybrid that showed they'd learned the lessons of their classical influences exceedingly well.

Customer Reviews

One of my favorite albums of all time

by
glennco

First heard this LP in Cleveland in 76, have been in love with it ever since.
This is intellegent, beautiful progressive rock.
Annie Haslam's voice is flawless. Beautiful melodies and top notch production.
Unbelievable keyboard work.
COLD IS BEING is actually written by Tomaso Albinoni, with lyrics by Renaissance.
So pleased to see Renaissance FINALLY on iTunes. Buy this one.
You will not be disappointed

This and SCHEHEREZADE

by
gennx

are masterworks.
The music arrangments, the playing, lyrics and Annie Haslams singing make the two BTM label albums something that rises high above much of the 2-chord schlock of today.
Hope fully iTunes will carry SCHEHEREZADE soon.
When I first heard THINGS I DONT UNDERSTAND (co-written by ex-Yardbirds-ex RENAISSANCE drummer Jim McCarty, with Micheal Dunford) I fell instantly win love with this music.
From album #1 (a somewhat different lineup)-they rose, and peaked with NOVELLA, then petered out as Punk became the next big thing. Much to our loss.

great progressive rock

by
mikerez

I still love this after 30 yrs. Mother Russia is amazing. Annie Haslam has the most beautiful
voice ever in a rock band. This album is only second to their Ashes Are Burning release.

Biography

Formed: 1969 in London, England

Genre: Rock

Years Active: '60s, '70s, '80s

The history of Renaissance is essentially the history of two separate groups, rather similar to the two phases of the Moody Blues or the Drifters. The original group was founded in 1969 by ex-Yardbirds members Keith Relf and Jim McCarty as a sort of progressive folk-rock band, who recorded two albums (of which only the first, self-titled LP came...